Our last day in town takes us to downtown Rapid City. Population 74,048. Elevation 3,203 feet. 55.49 square miles. Mountain time zone. Located in the southwest corner of South Dakota. Gateway to Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills. Host of “City of Presidents”.
Started in 1876 by disappointed miners, John Richard Brennan, Samuel Scott and a few other miners originally named it “Hay Camp”. They started the city to promote it as the gateway to the Black Hills by selling supplies to the miners and pioneers. A square mile of land was measured and the six blocks in the center were designated the business district. The town was renamed Rapid City after the rapid creek that ran through it. Tourism and Ellsworth Air Force base are what keep the city going and have helped the city continue to grow.
Rapid City hosts “City of Presidents”. Along Main Street for 5 or 6 city blocks the Presidents stand on each street corner. All the presidents up to but not including Obama are currently on display. The Obama statue is suppose scheduled to arrive this fall.
John Adams is delighted to shake Mike’s hand!!
And here we are with President George H.W. Bush.
A Lakota Indian woman with child.
Lunch at the Firehouse Brewery. The food was very good. Their cheesy artichoke dip with garlic beer bread was AWESOME!!!! Thank you for the recommendation Joe B. :). (do you love the light from the window on my face??)
Here is Art Alley that runs for several blocks between the two one way streets through downtown. Artists are allowed, by permit only, to paint graffiti on the walls and dumpsters.
Here is “The Chapel in the Woods” which is an exact reproduction of Borgund Stavkirke Laerdl (Borgund Stave Church) of Norway. Built in1969, it is the home of the Lutheran Vespers radio ministry. The other building is a Stabbur, which is an authentic grass-roofed store house built in Norway and reassembled on site. The grounds were very pretty. A wedding had just concluded at the chapel.
Since we were so close to the Rushmore Mall (well, close enough)……… just a quick stop at a few stores for the girls to pick out something from Rapid City. Fun for all (except Mike so he stayed in the car – which was probably fun for him – being alone). Evie and I shopped for groceries at Family Fare for the ride home.
We had a delicious dinner and played two games of spoons (Grandma one and Evie one) and a very close game of Sorry (Violet won). Off to bed early (well, for Grandma and Grandpa) so we can hit the road early. The next two days will be long days on the road. (That’s why this post is so late).
Girlsmotorhometrip2018 